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MESSAGE 



THE MAYOR, 



TO THE BOARPS OF 



Aldermen and Common Council 



CITY OF WASHINGTON, 1). C 



SAYLES J. BOWEX, MAYOR. 



Delivered June 29, 1868. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 

CHRONICI.i: I'l.'tvi- 



a I ■ '-a- 



SIESSAGE 



THE MAYOR, 



TO THE I50AKDS OK 



Aldermen and Common Conncil 



CITY OF AVASHirsGTON, D. C. 



SAYLES J. BOWEN, MAYOR. 



Di;i,ivEKKu June 29, 18G3. 




^:^_^n wi^ ^uu>-\tli^ ( ^■Y^-^^w ' 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 

CIIIJONICI.K rUINT. 

18()H 






JUN 27 1908 

D. ot a 



MESSAGE. 



To the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Counnl 

x)f the City of Wai^hinqton. D. C. 

Gentlemen : The disorgani/.od and coniusod state of atfair.s 
which has existed since I entered on the discharge of my duties 
has prevented me from obtaining such information as is neces- 
sary to enable me to make a detailed statement of the condi- 
ticn of things as they now exist, or to recommc^nd .-uch action 
as may be requisite to improve and conect it. I shall, there- 
fore, limit this communication to what I deem the most impor- 
tant measures that will present themselves for your cou-^idera- 
tion and disposal. 

THE CITY DKKT. 

The funded debt of the city is as follows: 

Six ppr cent, quarterly stock $080,101 32 

Five percent, quarterlj' stock (!1,307 t>0 

Six per cent, water stock ]r)r),000 00 

Six per cent, canal stock 48,800 00 

Total amount of funded debt $945,208 22 

The floating debt ascertained and estimated is — 

On account of Schools $200,000 

Police 31,«:« 

Levy Court 13,000 

Interest due July 1 - 1 ^OOO 

Washington Gaslight Company 40,000 

Reward for arrest of Murderers of Abraham Lincoln. 20,000 
Contractors and others, say 200,000 

$509,633 
This sum is probably con.^ideraldy less than the actual 
amount due, but is as nearly correct as it is possible to make it 
from all the information that could be obtained in the limited 
time I have had. 



The floating- debt, some of it long- since due, should be i>ro- 
vided for at once. It is too late to discuss the causes that led 
to it, or the swindling operations that have plunged the city 
into its financial difficulties. By proper means this debt can be 
paid, and the credit of the city restoreil to what it was before 
it was placed under the control of men reckless of the expendi.- 
ture of its revenues, wh) appear to have administered the af- 
fairs of the Corporation in the interest of themselves and a 
horde of cormorants aad speculators by whom they were sur- 
rounded. I recommend that application be made to Congress 
for authority to issue bonds in denominations of $50, $100, 
$500, and $1 000, with interest at six per cent, per annum, pay- 
able semi-annually, for the sum of $550,000, or so much thereof 
as may be necessary to pay the debt existing on the 30th in- 
stant, payable in ten years from date, or sooner, if the Corpo- 
ration desires; the redemption of said bonds to be provided for 
by a sinking fund, to be set apart annually for that purpose 
from the regular revenues of the city, such bonds to be used 
only for the extinguishment of said debt. These bonds, it is- 
believed, would l>e readily taken by the creditors of the Corpo- 
ration in payment of their demands, and then the city would be 
able to commence anew, uuembarrassed by importunate credi- 
tors, and to conduct its affnirs on the principle of "pay as you 
go," the only safe and prudent course for this or any other Cor- 
poration to pursue. 

In a future commuiiicatiun it is my expectation to furnish you 
with a detailed statement of the anticipated revenue.^ of the city 
from all sources, as well as the various sums required to be ex- 
pended for different objects during the year Thus far I have 
been unable to obtain information on which to base a reliable 
titatement in regard to these matters. 

OUR SCHOOh SYSTEM. 

The school system in thi.s city, in my opinion, could be vastly 
improved by placing the same under the control of a Board of 
Education, and providing for at least two competent superinten- 
dents to" examine into the qualifications, and to oversee, super- 
vise 'and direct the teachers in the discipline, managemenr,, 
course of studies, and details of the school-rooms. ^Jome have 



5 

ndvocatod the rnixiiicr of white and colored children in the J^anie 
schools; but my experience and ol»--crvsitioti satisfy me that it 
is at present impractica'de. The colored people are opposed to 
it, arul so stron;^ is the prejudice of many of our white citizens 
that they would prefer their children to remain in ignorance 
rather than send them to a school where children of color arc 
permitted to attend. Thus one class of children wnuld be de- 
prived of an education, which, more than anything el.-e, serves 
in the end to soften^ and destroy the unnatunil prejudice against 
color that has been engendered by the institution of slavery. 

At present, therefore, I would atlvise separate schools for 
tach class. 

GOVERN.MENT MI) NKKDKlJ. 

The support of these schools is a heavy burthen v>u our peo- 
ple, a large portion of which should be borne by the Uniied 
States. It is estimated that not more than two fifths of the 
children now living in the city (all of whom should have an 
opportunity to attend pul)lic fcchools) belong to families per- 
tnanently residing here. The remainder are children of such as 
are officers of the General Government, or those whom the for- 
tunes of the late war brought here, none of whom own pro[>erty 
or pay taxes into the city treasury. It is not fair that we should 
he taxed to educate their children, and I am satisfied that with 
a, proper representation and application to Congress for aid in 
this direction, we will be successful, particularly as this city has 
never received any assistance from that quarter, while all the 
States have been recipients of its bounty for educational pur- 
poses. I recommend that application to Congress be made for 
an appropriation equal to one half the sum required to support 
our schools, conditioned on the raising of the same amount by 
the city authorities for the same purpoj^c. 

SCllOOL BUILDINGS. 

Attention is requested to the school-house in course of erec- 
tion at the corner of Thirteenth and K streets The work has 
progressed so far that it can hardly be stopped at this time 
without injury to the walls and other portions of the structure, 
and yet the Corporation is without funds, and there is due the 
contractor about $()(), 000, which \\o cljiims nod is much in need 



of. Of courtie i his and other similar indehtedness can only be 
paid as funds are collected by the; Corporation, and the ques- 
tion is submitted for your consideration wheihor, under the cir- 
cumstances, the work shall go on until the building- is under 
roof, and thus secured from damage, or stop and wait until 
means are collected to pay for what has been doue, and then 
put it in condition to be occupied. 

The policy of erecting such a building, which, Aviih the ground 
and furniture, will cost nearly $200,000, was, in my opinion, 
questionable. While other portions of the city are destitute of 
school buildings, and there was scarcely money enough' to pay 
the necessary teachers, the reveanes for school purposes for 
nearly two years should never have been absorbed to build a 
single house, which at best will not accommodate one-tenth of 
the children of the city ! Good, substantial school-houses could 
have been built in every ward for less than the cost of this. 
Now we build one, and all other parts of the city nre desiiiutc! 

CONDITION OF OUrt STRKfcTS. 

Attention is called to the lilihy condition of the streets and 
alleys, and the necessity for tnking immediate steps to improve 
them as a sanitary measure. Unless that be done, disease and 
pestilence will overtake us sis certain as cause produces efl'ect. 
The total absence of means to d(^fray even the incidental ex- 
penses attendant upon the execution ol the laws of the Corpo- 
ration, prevents me from attempting to employ a force siiHicient 
to perform this necessary work without authority from the 
Councils. I am unwilling to increase the indebtedness of the 
city, and put a further strain upon its credit, until there has 
been some provision made for meeting the entire demand. No 
delay can be afforded in regard to this matter, and I trust the 
Councils will not adjourn this evening without indicating the 
policy proper to l)e pursued. 

REMOVAL OP THE CENTRE MARKKr. 

The Senate of the United States has passed a bill providing 
for the removal of the Centre Market to a point nn or near the 
canal, between Tenth and Twelfth stieets west. This bill will 
hi' acted on in the House immediatelv. and, us it is o matter of 



tlie greatest importance to the eily, 1 invite your attention to 
tlie fact, and request that you will give it the consideration it 
deserves. That the market should be removed from its present 
site, where it has been an eye-sore and a nuisance for a genera- 
tion, is tlie judgment of every well-wisher of Washington; but 
whet^icf a more appropriate and convenient location than that 
indicated in the Senate bill could not be secured, is a question 
in which all should take an interest. It is also inqiortant that 
an effort be made to secure to the city, if possible, a transfer by 
the General Government of the site on which the present mar- 
ket is located, the proceeds from the sale of which wonld go far 
toward paying the expense of erecting another market-house, 
as required. This site should be built up with stores and resi- 
dences, which would add to the appearance of the avenue, and 
the business and wealth of the city. 

THE CANAL HUISANCE. 

I invite your serious consideration to the suliject of the canal, 
many propositions for the Improvement of which have been 
made and discussed, both in Councils and in Congress. In my 
opinion, it is worthless as a means of transportation, and so 
long as it remains open, it will be a plague spot and a means of 
engerid(^ring dif-ease all over the city. Experience has proved 
clearly that it cannot be kept clean in its present condition. 
After all the expense incurred to renovate and cleanse it, it is 
there bearing ample testimony to all sensible minds, that it is a 
festering nuisance, sending forth from its beds of filth and scum 
its messengers of death to our population. I can see no other 
way to dispose of it than to contract its width to, say twenty 
feet, arch and cover it, so that it may serve the purpose of a 
.sewer for the city, and an outlet for the waters of the Tiber. 
By a bulkhead at Seventeenth street, and by paving or plank- 
ing the bottom of the arch, it could be daily cleansed by a flood 
of water pouring through it from end to end, and thus the nui 
sance will be abated. 

It may be said that this would require a large outlay of 
money, but, in answer to that, it is safe to assume that the re- 
claimed ground would sell for much more than the cost of the 
work, to say nothing of the advantages that would result from 
the abatement of the nuisance. 



I have thrown out these crude suggestions for the considera- 
tion of the Councils. If they prefer and sliall agree upon any- 
other feasible plan of disposing of this troublesome matter, I 
shall be glad to co-operate with them in the undertaking. Until 
a system of sewerage and drainage be introduced and carried 
out — such as the financial condition of the city will not admit 
of our undertaking for several years to come — we must use this 
channel for that purpose; but the time nill arrive when it will 
be necessary only for drainage and for an outlet, as before 
stated, of the Tiber. 

STREET RAILROADS AND REPAIRS, 

By the charter of the street railroads in the city the compa-. 
nies are required to keep the tracks, the spaces between the 
tracks, and for two feet outside the outer I'ails, well paved and 
in good order. It is well known to all, particularly those who 
have occasion to drive on the streets where these roads are 
located, that very little attention has been and is being paid to 
these requirements. 

As this is a grievance of which our citizens justly complain, 
I have deemed it my duty to call your attention to it, and ask 
such action in the premises as in your judgment the case re- 
quires. At the same time I would suggest that these corpora- 
tions sho lid not be allowed any special priviliges from the city 
authorities beyond those derived from their charters. 

THE CONTRACT SUSTEM. 

1 recommend the abrogation or repeal of all laws of the Cor- 
poration requiring that work on any of the streets or sewers 
shall be done by contract. Under the system of contracts, as 
it has been carried out, the city has been robbed of hundreds 
of thousands of dollars. Jobs that would disgrace any city or 
people have been passed and paid for as completed, accord- 
ing to the requirements of the contracts, when in not a single 
feature have ihe contracts been complied with. Street pave- 
ments and sidewalks have been laid in mud, when the contrac- 
tors were required to lay them in nine to twelve inches of sand 
or gravel, thus receiving pay for removing earth they never 
touched, and for using sand they never saw. Indeed, it is a 
common remark that no one has seen for years a job done for the 



Corporation according to tlie terms of the contract. Tlio con- 
sequence has been that our pavements have liad to be relaid 
nearly every year. Our sidewalks have become quagmires after 
every heavy rain, and when the frost is con\tiig out of the ground 
in the spring; our sewers have burst and tumbled in, carrying 
with them men, teams and carriages, involving the city in liti- 
gation, damages, and costs. The streets "gravelled" with 
mud, (as they have been in most cases,) have l)een cut up into gut- 
ters, requiring constant repairs The materials used have been 
of the meanest and least valuable kind possible to be procured; 
in fact, everything that could be has been done to swindle the 
taxpayers, and fdl the pockets of contractors and their aider.* 
and abettors. 

Such is the natural result of the s\stem, such the demorali- 
zation that is sure to follow in its train. To prevent it I would 
have all work of tin- kiiid performed by men hired by the day 
or week, who should be placed under the charge of commis- 
sioners for each ward, to be elected by the Councils and Mayor 
in joint convention, and the whole work to be controlled by two 
competent engineers and superintendents of streets and sewers, 
to be chosen in the same manner, and to be removable, as other 
officers now are, at the pleasure of the Mayor. By this means 
employment and prompt pay will be given, and the benefits of 
Corporation labor be distributed alike to all classes, regard- 
less of race or color Nor will laboring men be subject to be 
defrauded of their earnings by dishonest contractors. 

STREET REPAIRS. 

The great width of our streets operates as a drawback on 
our ability to jjave and keep them in good repair. The road- 
ways in all of ihem, in my opinion, are unnecessarily wide, and 
they could be contracted from fifteen to twenty feet without 
inconvenience and with very little expense, by setting curbstones 
further into the .streets, and using the space between the pave- 
ment line and the curbstone so set for a grass plat and for plant- 
ing trees. This is being done in many Northern cities, and I 
am satisfied it could be done here with advantage to the streets, 
with economy, and at the same it will add greatly to the health 
and beauty of the city, I recommend, in all cases where streets 



10 

arc to be paved in future, that authority be given to contract 
the width of the same as indicated. 

The jiractice of putting down gas and water mains in the 
middle of the streers is, in my opinion, very objectionable. It 
involves the necessity of opening the street to tap the mains or 
repair the service pipes, as w^ell as a large expense for excava- 
ting the trench and the necessary length of pipe to reach from 
the footwalk to the centre of the street. All this can be avoided 
by laying mains of one-half the capacity ot those required to 
furnish a supply to both sides of the street near the curbstone 
on each side, wiiich can readily be reached by the occupants of 
the buildings without cutting into the street, thus saving the 
cost of excavation and from thirty to forty feet of pipe to each 
individual. Besides, the streets could then be easily kept in 
good condition, and not be subject to being trenched every few- 
feet by those wishing to tap the mains or repair the pipes 
leading to their houses. It will cost little more to lay these 
two small mains than the large one, and when the additional 
cost of trenching and pipe is taken into the account it will be 
readily seen that the two pipes would be a matter of great 
economy as well as convenience. 

TUB CITY HALL. 

The City Hall building, all will agree, requires repairs, and 
the oftices and rooms occupied by the officers, of the corporation 
require furnishing. I recommend that an ap[)ropriation be 
made to paint and retit the west wing of the building, and 
that the work be done as early as possible. The grounds 
around the Hall are also in a wretched condition, and should be 
improved at once. 

THE NEW JAIL. 

Legislation is now pending in Congress relating to the con- 
struction of a new jail for this District, and involving the city 
in a heavy debt in connection with it. It is important that 
the sul)ject should receive the attention of the city authorities, 
in order that it may not be unrepresented on the commission 
having the work in charge and for which it is required to pay 
nearly one-half the expense. 



11 

OUR MUNICIPAL TROUBLES 

It i8, perhaps, needless for me to call your attention to the 
fact, known to you all, of the illegal and presumptuous action 
of a portion of the members of the Board of Aldermen and 
Board of Common Council since \he regular organization of the 
two Boards on the 8th instant. By a factious and revolutionary 
proceeding they have managed to keep one of the Boards with- 
out a quorum, thus preventing legislation and infliciing a last- 
ing injury upon the city. By an assumption of power they 
pretended to elect, and went through the farce of inaugurating, 
a man whom they denominate "Mayor nd interim," and who 
had the audacity to call at my office and demand that I should 
vacate the Mayor's rooms and turn over possession to him ! 
This man has actually issued orders to a certain officer, and 
perhaps others, assuming the prerogative of Mayor of this city, 
and on his order t^vo or more culprits have been turned loose 
from the workhouse ! How far arc these things to be suffered 
to go? The time will come when this conspiracy must end, 
and in the opinion of our best citizens that time has already 
arrived. The interest of the public cannot be allowed to suffer 
for an indefinite period by the action of a few conspiring 
factionists and disorganizers. The criminal laws should be 
appealed to, or such action taken as will correc-t the existing 
condition of things. I leave the matter in your hands, assuring 
you of my co-operation in whatever legal course you may think 
proper to pursue. 

NORTH CAPITOL STREET. 

The rapid improvement of thnt part of the city lying north 
of the Capitol renders it necessary and proper that North Cap- 
itol street should be immediately opened and put in a condition 
to travel. The obstructions on that wide and beautiful street, 
placed there by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, 
have retarded the progress of the city in the vicinity of the 
Capitol and north to the city boun<lary. But for this North 
Capitol street and the streets adjoining, would now present a 
beautiful prospect from the Capitol, and be bnilt up with hand- 
some residences As it is there is no part of our city that 
presents a more forl)idding appearance, and none that is more 



12 

often seen by strangers visiting the metropolis who wonder why 
this portion remains a desert plsice. It is really a disgrace, and 
it becomes the eity authorities to exert themselves to have a 
remedy applied. If proper efforts were made the railroad ob- 
structions could be removed, and an appropriation secured from 
Congress to grade and gravel North Capitol street, from the 
Capitol to the boundar}'' of the city. 

THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFl'lCE. 

The difficult}^ of access from the Capitol to the Government 
Printing Office, especially in winter, when all the travel be- 
tween the two places is necessarily through New Jersey ave- 
nue and 11 street Avill be a sufficient plea to cause favorable 
action by Congress in this matter. As I understatd it, the 
wide streets leading directly from the Capitol, East Capitol and 
South Capitol streets, are under the jurisdiction of the United 
States, and are to be graded by the Government. A])pro]iria- 
tions have already been made by Congress for grading f]ast 
Capitol street, and surely it is (juite as necessary to have North 
Capital street opened for travel at this time as that running 
east from the Capitol. Indeed, there are many consideratioiis 
in favor (jf the former that do not exist in regard to the latter. 

IMPROVING CtUTAlN AVKNUES. 

The work of grading and gravelling Virginia and Delaware 
avenues should be continued till the same are opened their 
entire length. 

This work has become a necessity. The difficulty of travel- 
ling on them, washed as they have been by heavy rains, and 
guttered from end to end, is a source of serious inconvenience 
to the large population residing on and near them who have a 
right to expect that the Government should put and keep them 
in good travelling condition. Louisiana and Indiana avenues 
should also be rejuvired and paved without ( elay. The horrible 
condition of these avenues for several winters past has rendered 
travel on them difficult and dangerous. 

Congress has exclusive jurisdiction over these thoroughfares 
and it is reasonable to expect that the General Government will 
do its part in improving and keeping in proper order such 



13 

streets and avenues as it assumes to control. It is proper 
therefore that application be made to Congress for an appro- 
priation necessary for this purpose, to be made before the close 
of the present session. 

The proseeutioir frf ihese necessary works will give employ- 
ment to maaiy persons brought here by the exigencies of the war, 
who are now idle in consequence of the reduction of force 
hit!ie*tiV6hi ployed in the differeut branches of mechanical and 
Other Bailor. That there is much suffering in our midst amongst 
these peojde is but too well known, and it is but just and proper 
that every effort be made to relieve their wan is by securing 
situations for them where they can be prolitably employed. 

MAJOR A. C. RICIIARLS. 

It miay not be improper for me now to refer to recent events 
that have trdn^f>'4l-P(t in this city. 

While we may congratulate ourselves that by a prompt and 
honest course we have been enabled to maintain the rights fairly 
accorded to us by the people in the late election, it is only due 
to an upright and conscientious public officer (I mean Major A. 
C. Richards, the able Superintendent of Police,) to say that but 
for his promptitude and foresight a fmal settlement might have 
been delayed, or only attained through scenes of violence and 
bloodshed 

REFORMS CONTKMPLATKO. 

Jt is my earnest desire to begin, if not to complete, during 
njy administration of this municipality, such reforms and im- 
provements as wdl make the city of Washington what the Cap- 
ital of the United States should be. Probably no city govern- 
ment in the nation has ever been longer or more persistently 
misruled than this; and none certainly has been made the object 
of such generosity on the part of the people's representatives. 
Instead or being an example and a model of honesty in its offi- 
cials, rigor in the collection and integrity in the disbursement of 
its revenues, it has rather been a warning to others in the loose- 
ness, the favoritism, and the utter recklessness that have pervaded 
most of its departments. Of course it cannot be expected that 
a new administration can cure evils that have become almost 
chronic within a short periixl of time, especially obslrueteci as I 



u 

have been, and those who co-operate with me, by a bitter and 
anceasin.a; opposition. Bat entering upon my duties with a 
sincere desire to promote the general welfare and to preserve 
the public peace, I am not without hope that even those who 
have allowed themselves to be misled by prejudice or party will 
finally see that it is their true interest to sustain the new ad- 
ministration in all the efforts it is resolved to make for the gen- 
eral improvement and progress of the city. 

The moment Congress is convinced that we mean to fulfil our 
pledges — that we mean to pay our debts and to conduct our 
affairs frugally and carefully — -we shall almost be anticipated in 
our enterprises, and will rarely ask in vain from the representa- 
tives ot the people. 

PROSPECTS OF "WASHINGTON. 

There is no reason why Washington should not become a 
great manufacturing and commercial city, nor why more great 
railroads connecting it Xorth and South should not be projected 
and completed. Our advantag(!s of climate, position, neighbor- 
hood of the ocean, and profusion of water power, have been so 
often commented upon as to render any lengthy reference to 
tht^m unnecessary ; but I may be pardoned an allusion to the 
fact that since the overthrow of the rebellion new attractions are 
offered to emigration by the necessity and advantages of settling 
and cultivating the vast bodie.s of land in and near the Di.strict 
of Columbia. Emigration met at New York by agents from the 
West, who do their utrao.st to set forth the superior claims of the 
great domain owned by the companies 'hey represent, has been 
steadily diverted from the South; but now that slavery has 
been destroyed, foreigners seeking homes for themselves in this 
country wdl naturally turn to the section nearest the market, 
and can be readily induced to come here and make their homos 
in the viciniy of the capital of the nation. The same sagacity 
and perseverance which have done so much to people our new 
States and Territories, if applied to the adjacent rich laitds in 
Virginia and Maryland, would not only give us a thriving popula- 
tion but would add materially to the strength and perpetuity 
of the Government itself, 



15 

tlOW TO UETAIN THE CAPlTAl,. 

I know that I .■»peak not only for the people who honored mc 
with their suflTrages at the late oleetion, but for very many who 
voted ag-ain-st nie, when I say that there in an earnest, nay, an in- 
tense desire on their part to do everything to maintain the seat 
of government in this ten miles square. Not only personal in- 
terests, but the highest public considerations should make us 
act together in all matters reialing to the solid prosperity of 
Washington city. However partisans may rail at their success- 
ful rivals, and deny that their efforts are being used to the 
damage of this beautiful city, and however the movements in 
Congress may be traduced and misunderstood, no reasonable 
man can doubt that a long continuance in such violent scenes 
as have recently disgraced this metropolis will ultimately, and 
probably too soon, result in a concerted effort for the removal 
of the capital. Let it be our dut}', by good order, by integrity 
in our government, by the cultivation of the arts of peace and 
kind feeling among ourselves, and above all by exhibiting a 
constant and grateful attachment to our common country, to 
disarm all such efforts, so that our firmest and fastest friends 
will be found in those guardians who have, under the Constitu- 
tion of the United States, exclusive jurisdiction over the Dis- 
trict of Columbia. 

8. J. BOWEN, Mayor. 

June 29tb 18G8 




jH| 011 180 740 1 4^ 



